Quarterback update: Coker says he ‘may’ use three at Houston

SAN ANTONIO — How many UTSA quarterbacks will play on Friday night at Houston?

The answer to that question evolved during the day on Tuesday.

After a morning practice, head coach Larry Coker said he expected to use all three of his scholarship quarterbacks in the season opener, indicating that senior Tucker Carter would start and that freshmen Austin Robinson and Blake Bogenschutz also would play.

But later in the day, in response to a question on his radio show Tuesday night, Coker indicated that it would be Carter and Robinson and possibly Bogenschutz.

The game is set for 8 p.m. Friday at Houston’s new TDECU Stadium.

Coker said on his radio show that Robinson, a redshirt freshman, “definitely” will play against the Cougars.

“I think he’s a very talented young man,” the coach said. “He came from a small high school (Houston-area Bellaire Episcopal). Coach (Kevin) Brown has done a great job with him. He’s done some things that have really helped us.”

Continuing in his assessment of the situation, Coker was not firm that Bogenschutz would play against the Cougars.

But he did say that the freshman, who led Carthage to the Class 3A state title last fall, compared favorably to departed starter Eric Soza.

“Blake is special,” Coker said. “He’s really a special player. I think he’ll be outstanding before he leaves. Reminds me a lot of Eric Soza, probably a little more talented than Eric, actually.

“(He’s) very smart. A 4.0 student … (and) he’s a very talented and is a tremendous leader. He has a very quick release and is very accurate with the ball.”

In terms of how UTSA would play Friday night, Coker said, “We’re excited. We’ll see how it goes. We may play all three.”

Earlier in the day, the coach seemed firm with the idea that all three would play.

“I expect all three of them to play, to be honest with you,” Coker said Tuesday morning. “They all deserve to play.”

Coker is a veteran coach who served as an offensive coordinator for much of his career. He admitted that he doesn’t remember ever preparing to play a game using three quarterbacks.

“We’ve never done that, you know,” he said. “But these guys, I feel good about ’em, and they’ve all practiced well.”

Without elaborating on how he planned to get all three players in the game, the coach said each one gives the offense something different.

“Without question, you know who our starter is,” Coker said. ” Tucker is our guy. He’ll get the lion’s share of it. But the other guys, they’re going to get some time.”

UTSA offensive coordinator Kevin Brown hedged on whether the team planned to use all three players.

“We’ll have three of ’em ready,” Brown said. “I don’t know if three will get in the game. We’re traveling three, and we’ll see where it goes from there.”